HIV Viral Load During Pregnancy Impacted by Time of Diagnosis and Prenatal Care
A retrospective review of HIV-positive women who delivered in Philadelphia between 2005-2013 found that women who were diagnosed HIV-positive during pregnancy were less likely to receive antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load than those diagnosed prior to pregnancy. Additionally, women who had inadequate prenatal care were less likely to receive ART and have an undetectable viral load than those with an adequate amount of prenatal care. Diagnosis of women prior to pregnancy and ensuring engagement in prenatal care are two key interventions contributing to a decreased risk of perinatal transmission of HIV.
Citation:
Momplaisir FM, Brady KA, Fekete T, Thompson DR, Diez Roux A, Yehia BR. Time of HIV diagnosis and engagement in prenatal care impact virologic outcomes of pregnant women with HIV. PLoS One. 2015 Jul 1;10(7):e0132262. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132262. eCollection 2015.
